Laser blood-flow meter and system for monitoring bio-data

Abstract

A laser blood-flow meter includes a laser-beam irradiator for irradiating laser beams to biological structure, a detector for detecting scattered beams resulted from scattering of the laser beams in the biological structure, the laser blood-flow meter measuring blood flow of the biological structure in accordance with the scattered beams detected by the detector, and a beam-collector for collecting the scattered beams to direct the collected beams to the detector.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention relates to a laser blood-flow meter and a system for monitoring bio-data.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-45342 has suggested a laser blood-flow meter which irradiates laser beams to biological structure to allow the laser beams to be scattered in the biological structure, and detect power spectrum of scattered laser beams to thereby measure blood flow in the biological structure.[0005]The suggested laser blood-flow meter measures or calculates blood flow by virtue of a speckle interference process making use of diffraction of laser beams scattered in biological structure.[0006]Herein, speckle interference indicates, with respect to measurement of blood flow, a spotted noise or interference pattern obtained when scattered beam resulted when laser beams irradiated to biological structure are scattered with erythrocytes in blood are observed at a f...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]In view of the above-mentioned problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laser blood-flow meter and a system for monitoring bio-data both of which are capable of being less influenced by artifact noises, and readily and stably measuring blood flow in a head and quarters independently of each other.

[0021]Since the laser blood-flow meter in accordance with the present invention includes the beam-collector, it would be possible to collect scattered beams, and amplify signals necessary for measurement of blood flow. That is, it would be possible to reduce artifact noises relatively to the signals, and hence, the laser blood-flow meter could be less influenced by artifact noises. Thus, it is now possible to solve the problem that blood flow cannot be properly measured because of artifact noises. Hence, it is also possible to apply the laser blood-flow meter in accordance with the present invention to a monitor system which is necessary to receive for a long time blood flow data and biological data having correlation with the blood flow. Furthermore, the laser blood-flow meter in accordance with the present invention can readily and stably measure blood flow in a head and quarters independently of each other

[0023]The laser blood-flow meter may further include a case (110a) in which the laser-beam irradiator (12), the beam-collector (15) and the detector (13) are arranged, in which case, it is preferable that the case (110a) has a flat contact-surface (101), as at least a part of an external surface thereof, at which the case (110a) makes contact with a surface of the biological structure (11) when blood flow of the biological structure (11) is measured, and the laser-beam irradiator (12), the beam-collector (15) and the detector (13) are arranged in this order on a path substantially parallel with the flat contact-surface (101). Thus, it is possible to render the contact-surface more stable, ensuring that the laser blood-flow meter is less influenced by artifact noises during measurement of blood flow.

[0039]In accordance with the above-mentioned system, blood flow and a blood-flow waveform obtained when the blood flow and the blood-flow waveform of the head is not in synchronization with the blood flow and the blood-flow waveform of the any one of quarters are not used for monitoring bio-data, ensuring that bio-data is monitored based on blood flow and a blood-flow waveform both having been properly measured. That is, blood flow and a blood-flow waveform both much influenced by artifact noises are not used for monitoring bio-data, and accordingly, it is ensured that the laser blood-flow meter is less influenced by artifact noises. Furthermore, when blood flow and a blood-flow waveform of a head and quarters are measured independently of each other, it would be possible to readily and stably do so.

[0048]In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to reduce harmful influence caused by artifact noises, and readily and stably measure blood flow of a head and quarters independently of each other continuously for a long time.

Problems solved by technology

The artifact noises often become extremely high in proportion with power spectrum of scattered beams, in which case, it is not possible to properly measure blood flow.

Thus, it was difficult or almost impossible to properly measure blood flow by applying a laser blood-flow meter to a monitor system which was necessary to receive for a long time blood flow data and biological data having correlation with the blood flow.

Hence, it has been said that blood flow in a head and quarters were necessary to be measured independently of each other, but it was not possible to do so because of the above-mentioned artifact noises.

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